Maine Peak to Peak Challenge

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SKI MAINE ASSOCIATION NEWS BUREAU PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:
Greg Sweetser, Executive Director
207-773-7669 (SNOW) ext 1
gsweetser@skimaine.com

Ski Maine Assiciation: (Dec 06, 2007)

there is a core of skiers and riders ready to explore many, if not all of the Maine areas.”

The Maine Peak to Peak Challenge awards skiers based on the number of areas they visit. The more mountains logged by skiers and riders, the bigger the possible prize.

• Ski / Ride all of Maine’s 17 member areas and skiers can enter to win a Ski Maine VIP pass and Solo Pack for the 2008/2009 season. The VIP Pass allows the winner to ski any Maine mountain at any time.
• Ski / Ride any 12 Ski Maine member areas and participants will be entered to win a Ski Maine Double Pack for the 2008/2009 season: 2 tickets to each member area.
• Ski / Ride any 6 Ski Maine member areas and participants will be entered to win the Ski Maine Solo Pack for the 2008/2009 season: 1 ticket to each member area.

Participants will track their visits with the Ski Maine Peak to Peak Challenge card.

Maine's ski and snowboard industry is built on a rich skiing heritage, now protected and displayed for posterity by the Ski Museum of Maine. The Maine Peak to Peak Challenge, sponsored by the Ski Maine Association, will help further the mission of the museum through supporting pledges gathered throughout the winter."

Complete event information is available on the Ski Maine website, skimaine.com.

Maine Peak to Peak Challenge tour itinerary:

1) Spruce Mountain - First Run!

2) Lost Valley

3) Shawnee Peak

4) Mt. Abram

Friday evening: 108 miles. Overnight at Sunday River

5) Sunday River

6) Black Mountain

7) Titcomb

8) Saddleback

9) Sugarloaf

Saturday: 104 miles. Overnight stay at Sugarloaf

10) Baker Mountain

11) Eaton Mountain

12) Hermon

13) Mt. Jefferson

14) Big Rock

15) Quoggy Jo

Sunday: 302 miles. Overnight stay in Presque Isle

16) Lonesome Pine Trails

17) Camden Snowbowl - Last Run!

Monday: 291 miles

Plus Start Portland to Spruce Mountain: 67 miles

Plus Finish Camden to Portland: 80 miles

Total estimated mileage: 952 miles

Team Bios

1. Carey Kish, Portland – Downhill skier – Team Captain

Manages the GO MAINE commuter service for Greater Portland Council of Governments. All-around outdoor adventurer and avid downhill skier for 20 years. Always up for a good challenge… ski all Maine ski areas in one weekend? Absolutely!

2. Janet Thurston, Raymond – Snowboarder

Clinical consultant with Unum. Downhill skier for 20 years, snowboarder for 12 years. Veteran hiker, biker and climber. Looks forward to the opportunity to snowboard all the Maine ski areas in a 3-day period!

3. Annie O’Brien, Cape Elizabeth – Downhill skier

Clinical consultant with Unum. Took up downhill skiing 17 years ago to help tolerate Maine winters, a wise decision. Excited about the chance to ski and support Maine’s ski areas. All in one weekend? Why not!

4. Craig Hansen, Gray – Telemark skier

Marketing Consultant. Alpine skier since age 5, learned to telemark during “post-graduate” work out west. Skis for the freedom of it. Looking forward to discovering Maine’s smaller ski areas with our team of snow-crazed individuals.

5. Greg Sweetser, Cumberland – Downhill skier

Executive Director of the Ski Maine Association. A lifelong skier who has spent his entire career in the ski business, people tell Greg that he has one of skiing’s dream jobs. This trek will be another “day at the office” as he meets with each association member.

6. Heather Atwell, Keene, NH – Downhill skier

E Communications Manager for Yankee Magazine. The offspring of parents who met in the lift line at Stowe, Heather’s skied since she could walk. She’s a full certified PSIA instructor who knows Vermont areas well from her four years working for Ski Vermont, but is anxious to ski Maine's 17 peaks and write about it on her ski blog at YankeeMagazine.com.

7. Bruce Mason, Auburn – Downhill skier
8. Joanne Mason, Auburn – Downhill skier

Cemetery Sextons & Ski Maine volunteers. This husband & wife team are two hard driving skiers. Whether they are working at a ski area “demo day” or free skiing from dawn to dark, Bruce & Joanne will set a blazing pace along the tour.

Sponsors of the Peak to Peak Challenge include Mountain Dew, mainetoday.com, Jeep, Head and RSN. For complete event details, visit Ski Maine Association on line at www.skimaine.com.

The Ski Maine Association is the non-profit trade association representing
Maine’s ski and snowboard industry.

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